Chapter 86: Cretheus

Chapter 86: Cretheus
Cretheus
The room buzzed with the quiet tension of recovered order as knights gathered, their armor still bearing the marks of battle. A scout stepped forward, his tone steady but worn.
"The outer defenses are secure again. His Majesty's royal soldiers arrived in time. Together, we pushed them back and managed to capture several rogues. They're being held in the prison now."
Relief swept the room, unspoken but palpable. The chaos had passed, at least for now.
While everyone felt relief, I kept clenching and unclenching my hands, trying to shake off the uneasiness I had felt since earlier. But I could no longer ease this feeling.
Something had happened to Kasumi! And I must take a leave!
My eyes wouldn't leave Kenji, who had arrived a little late and was sitting across from me. I had been eager to ask him where Kasumi was, and my blood had been boiling since earlier. 
I felt the bond weakened with Kasumi, and what she had said could have been right. They had started to make a move! They really timed it during the time that the rogues had attacked the western borders, which was suspicious already.
As the last knight exited and the door thudded shut behind him, silence settled over the war chamber. Only Kenji and I remained. He stood first, stretching with a quiet chuckle that grated on my nerves.
"You're unusually tense, Cretheus. Something bothering you?"
My hands twitched, fists itching for a fight, but I kept still, sinking deeper into the chair. One elbow draped lazily over the armrest, the other hand tapping slowly against my temple as I fixed him with a cool, unreadable gaze.
"Don't you find it odd?" I said, voice calm but edged with steel. "An abrupt assault on the western borders... and it just happens to fall apart the moment the royal soldiers arrive?"
"Hmm..." Kenji hummed, caressing his chin. "I don't think so." He shrugged. "You must be imagining things." His lips drew out a smile. "Perhaps, you should retire." 
As he gathered his things, preparing to leave, I cleared my throat and finally spoke, voice even but firm.
"I'm taking my apprentice back. You've had enough time with her, and she was mine from the beginning."
My words were a deliberate probe, sharp enough to gauge his reaction.
Before the mission, Kasumi had still been under his guidance. But ever since the fighting erupted, something had shifted. The bond I shared with her—the unmistakable pull of the mate connection—had vanished like smoke on the wind. Then came her distress signal. Weak, but clear.
And the moment she disappeared from our radar, I knew exactly who to suspect.
Kenji turned slowly, amusement flickering across his face. "Funny. You gave her to me willingly. Now you're clawing to take her back?"
"I changed my mind," I said without missing a beat. "Need me to spell it out for you?"
His brow lifted, eyes glittering like he was enjoying a private joke. "What's so special about her that you can't find in your newly recommended apprentice? Or is this because she's your granddaughter-in-law from House De Rosa? That's a bit tangled, don't you think?"
I kept my expression level, though his choice of words grated against every instinct I had. Granddaughter-in-law? That's not what she was.
She was mine. I was one of her mates. And I was proud of it.
I leaned forward slightly, voice low and pointed. "And didn't you once fill your ranks with your own pack members? Tell me. Wasn't that a conflict of interest too?"
My gaze met his, steady and unwavering. Two predators were circling.
Kenji's smile twitched at the edges, not quite faltering but no longer as confident. He parted his lips, ready to throw another veiled jab—but the tent flap rustled before he could speak.
A figure stepped in, cloaked in royal colors.
Not just any soldier.
My spine straightened instantly.
"Theodore," I breathed.
"Greetings, Uncle Cretheus." His voice carried calm authority, his presence a grounding force amid the chaos.
I furrowed my brows. "When did you arrive?" The relief hit me in waves. Cool, steadying. If Theodore was here, then he must've felt it too. The ripple in the bond. The fading of Kasumi's presence.
She was in danger. I didn't need proof. I felt it in my bones.
And I refused to believe she was gone.
"She's alive," I muttered under my breath, as if saying it aloud anchored the truth.
Kenji gave a mock bow, theatrical as ever. "I'll take my leave, then. Seems I'm interrupting a family reunion."
I opened my mouth to stop him. We weren't finished. Not even close. There was no way that he would leave this tent without me asking where Kasumi was.
But before the words came, another figure stepped into view.
Thaddeus.
Kenji halted mid-step as Thaddeus laid a firm hand on his shoulder.
My jaw clenched.
Now he wasn't going anywhere.
"Don't leave yet, Kenji Miyoshi," Thaddeus said in a calm tone. "We actually need you. This is why we came here in hopes that our uncle is already talking to you." Our eyes met. 'We know where she is. Rest assured, uncle. He knows exactly where our mate is.'
I simply nodded. Deep inside, this turmoil of emotions had slightly subsided. However, it didn't escape the fact that my nephews managed to cross the western border in a short amount of time.
"Oh? It's unexpected that you need my presence." When Kenji tried to remove Thaddeus' hand from his shoulder, my nephew didn't budge, but still held on to him. His eyes squinted as he drew out a scoff. "What's this, huh? Is this some antic from you, De Rosa?" His gaze lingered on me. "Perhaps, you might want to inform your nephews about boundaries, Cretheus."
I decided to stand up, feeling much confident than earlier. "My, my, pardon their actions, Miyoshi." I approached them and placed my hand on his other shoulder. I smiled sweetly. "But to be honest, you are our only lead."
Theodore went in front of him, bowing before him. "Lead us to where Kasumi is right now," he said in a mere whisper, enough for the four of us to hear. "We know she's captured by you, Kenji Miyoshi."